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    Tryon Palace Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Tryon Palace

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    Original spinning
    Jeff U.

    Very cool historical stop We enjoyed our guide The period dressed folks taught us a lot 45 minute tour so not too long Original buildings were cool Gardens were nice too You should stop in

    Inside the palace
    Vannessa L.

    This was a great tour, the only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the first time I went, the guide was not dressed up and sometimes I had to listen so intently because he was practically mumbling his words so fast I couldn't understand. He was however, very informative and gave you lots of information about the rebuild of the palace and the fun things inside. The second time I went, the lady was dressed up, but terrible! She barely spoke loud enough, it was like listening to a lecture from a history professor, but not the fun one. She gave NO insight about the palace itself or the fun stuff inside. I felt like I was giving the tour to my parents with me myself! I LOVE history, but my goodness. I think they need to follow along these tour guides and give them constructive criticism. It's almost a lost art with people being historians and having a personality. The tour guide for the Dixon house, I forgot her name, tall lengthy gal with glasses, loved her! She was wonderful! She spoke clearly, gave great information about the, didn't make you want to fall asleep and was quick.

    Front gate entrance

    We had such a great time here. The gardens are beautiful, employees are funny and so nice and helpful/knowledgeable about the place and its history. The lady who did our tour was fantastic and had an answer for every question that was asked. I'm horrible with names but I will remember her by her accent. 10/10 would recommend going here and seeing all of it. For what we paid was well worth our time to see this place. We also got to see a history museum and a few other things that was included with our pass.

    Meredith S.

    Such a well done site! We took the guided tour through the house and were pleased with our guide. He was very knowledgeable and quite funny, despite the fact that it was later in the day and they had apparently had several school groups visit throughout the day prior to our arrival. As a former historical guide/educator for a certain pre-colonial and colonial site in VA, I know that can be exhausting. You would not have known it from his fantastic and entertaining tour! The site is well run and even the self-guided tours (the kitchen and stable) have costumed staff on hand to answer questions and provide information. The bonus was the living history rev war encampment on site. All in all, this is a must see when visiting the New Bern area. Unfortunately, we wished we had spent more time here exploring than the hour and a half we gave ourselves, especially adding in the NC History center. The one disappointment, believe it or not, was the museum store. Oh don't get me wrong, there were so many beautiful local things to purchase! But what was missing were the basics. This is obviously a store manager that purchases the things she likes instead of thinking what visitors themselves would purchase. Yes, lotions and soaps, candles and pretty little baubles are neat (again, but even talking about the local items), but you also need to include the basics - the branded merchandise that brings in the income. Most people/parents won't pay the mark up for items in a museum store that they can purchase elsewhere for less. I say this because it reminds me of a certain war museum where I worked as an educator for years that was the same way. The shop manager filled the store with miniature toy soldiers and toy soldier books that he was into as a hobby. On a daily basis, visitors asked where was the "stuff" that said XYZ War Museum so they could remember their trip. We didn't have any. Just an observation.

    Rebecca M.

    Tryon Palace has reopened! When I booked my tour it was to be limited to 10 individuals but there were 20 of us on the tour. Before the pandemic the tours did not have more of a handful so it was surprising to have such a large group touring. The New Bern Academy Museum was closed as was the Stanly House; Dixon House and Hay House. Tours of the palace were offered but just of the first floor. The kitchen, stables, gardens; tent area and the NC History Center were open although the Pepsi Center was closed. Even with all the closures it is still a beautiful place to visit on the water. I just love walking through the gardens. It will be nice when the house are reopened as I missed seeing the houses.

    Candlelight Tour Will Call
    Jill M.

    The candlelight Christmas event each December is well worth the price of your timed admission ticket. Plan ahead and purchase in advance. While touring the parlance is the highlight, there's plenty of other entertainment going on. We arrived at 4:30 when the gates opened. Our online tickets had to be replaced with a timed ticket across from the palace front gates. Parking and ticket exchange were no problem. Two historic homes were open for tours, decorated for the holiday, and narrated by past residents in colonial costumes. Another was serving complimentary hot cider and ginger snaps in the garden. There was an encampment with soldiers, a tent with seating for entertainment (magician and a sword swallowing duo) drum and fife band and the dancers, drummers and singers celebrating the African tradition of Jonkonnu. A bit of 21st century provides the opportunity to purchase food from food trucks. Our timed ticket was for 6:30. Earlier would have been better--later meant even longer lines. We were greeted by actors playing the parts of royalty, friends, and servants with a different story line every year. The tour takes you thru the place and includes climbing stairs. It ends in a beer garden. There is a gift shop and another area with sweets, baked goods and coffee for sale. I read about this event in Our State magazine and will definitely make this a Christmas tradition. Plan to spend the whole evening so you aren't rushed. Fireworks end the event with a colorful bang!

    2021 Spring Garden Lovers weekend is coming up in April, so mark your calendar!
    Suzanne H.

    Stopped by the Spring Heritage plant sale today. Such a fun way to spend the morning in The Palace gardens. Friendly, knowledgeable staff/volunteers available to help you select the best plants for your environment! Hopefully their advice will help these beauties survive and thrive! Helping the foundation is even better when the plants are healthier and less expensive than the big box garden centers. During the sale, they accept credit c

    Festive holiday fruit display above the stable door.
    Kelly A.

    We visited the Palace in November 2023, the Christmas decorations inside and around the buildings were spectacular! Very traditional, understated and beautiful - as the docents explained they were much like they would have been when the Palace was in use. There is an encampment on the left when you enter through the gates - very interesting gentlemen there, knowledgeable of the types of weaponry used in that time period. Entering the gorgeous front doors, our docent was friendly and welcoming. As we toured through the house, she gave us so much information about how the families lived there, history of the furniture inside, and about the interesting architecture. We then walked to the kitchen building - WHOA! This was the highlight for me. There were two ladies inside who were friendly, full of knowledge and were very fun to talk to. The authentic kitchen was interesting, and they make a recipe each day to fill the room with delicious aroma. The stable building was next - beautifully done inside, the brick floors, the wooden beams - gorgeous! We walked through some of the gardens, but it was late in the day so we cut that short. Highly recommend a visit here - very interesting for all ages. Well done!

    The turpentine process. This took all hands on deck! Pepsi Center highlight for the boys
    Kristen A.

    What a gem! My friend and I took our 7 kids to visit the Gardens, the encampment, and the Pepsi History Center. We started at the encampment and were thoroughly impressed with our conversations and the demonstrations. The interpreters gave so much attention to our kiddos and answered lots of questions. To beat the midday heat we went to Pepsi Center down the block and not having any expectations or prior knowledge of it, we were floored by how immersive and fun it was. As a group we rotated between the ship, the turpentine factory, the kitchen, the dry goods shop, the printer, and the home. Each had a mission to complete and the kids talked about it the rest of the day. From there we walked around for a quick stop into the museum (not super kid friendly), watched the video on palace history, and headed back to the gardens for the beginning of some golden hour goodness (ish. It was 4:30). In mid April there was so much in bloom and we took 100s of photos. We've been to gardens all over the country, most recently in Charleston and Williamsburg, VA ... Tryon was the best in our opinion!

    Ivy J.

    If you're thinking of coming here. I would suggest coming in the spring when the gardens are in bloom and when all this COVID mess is over. The tour is great but the upstairs and the kitchen are closed off because of the pandemic I guess. You only tour the bottom half of the palace. Hopefully, these restrictions let up so we can come back for a full experience.

    Just before dark at the Christmas Candlelight Tour
    Jeff B.

    Five stars for the Christmas Candlelight Tour and Festivities. The Palace is open and decorated for guided tours that included individuals dressed in period correct costumes. Each stop in the house included a play of sorts referenced to current events of that era. There was a working blacksmith shop, troop campsites, stable and for this event there was a small circus tent with performances. In addition, there were 4 additional houses that you could visit just by the Palace that offered plays with each from a varying time period including 1950. One house even had Father Christmas aka Santa. There were demonstrations of other types and music. They concluded the evening with black powder fireworks over the river. 5-stars to the folks planning and participating in this event. They made our Christmas really special this year. Note the town of New Bern and the neighborhood around Tryon Palace are fully decorated for this event. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

    Erica R.

    I ended up visiting Tryon Palace on a bit of a whim, as my grandmother had wanted to visit New Bern and the palace seemed to be what she was most interested in seeing. I enjoy some of the historical aspects to the location and found the tours to be generally interesting, but opted to spend the majority of my time with the self-guided tour through the outer garden and buildings. While main portions of the garden are a delight, you can tell that there's a bit of a problem with maintaining the property. My grandmother and I chatted for a short bit with one of the women who was volunteering at the garden (weeding, cleaning up some of the walkways, etc), and she said they were having a very difficult time keeping volunteers to help with the maintenance of the garden area and such. It's unfortunate, but you can definitely tell in some areas of the garden that the space isn't getting as much attention as it should in order to keep it appealing to visitors (dried greenery and weeds, etc). Before and after our tours around the palace, my grandmother and I spent time in the neighboring History Center. The staff members in each location were all very pleasant, and if you're interested in history then a visit to Tryon Palace is a charming, and not too time-consuming, means to enjoy some of the reconstructed architecture and such from the period... but just don't come here with serious/great expectations or anything. TL;DR Enjoyed some of the gardens, though they could be better maintained. Staff members are helpful. Generally interesting, but not something I would be especially excited about or remember to recommend to others visiting the area.

    Palace
    Susi H.

    The main attraction in New Bern. This palace and surrounding historical buildings can all be visited with one encompassing ticket. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum, right by the water. The complex encompasses the Palace and gardens, but also several other buildings to include The Academy, John Wright Stanly and more. Sunday is their slowest day, which makes for a less crowded visit, however on Sunday the complex opens at noon and closes early, therefore effectively shortening the visiting time in half (for the same ticket price). This was quite disappointing as I would expect tickets to be cheaper on a day when half the time is allowed to visit the grounds. At the very least they should allow visitors with a Sunday purchased ticket to come back and visit the complex the next day if needed (with appropriate receipt off course)...but this is not the case...hence the 4 stars. I understand employees wanting Sunday morning off, but again, ticket price should reflect reduced hours.

    Tryon Palace

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    It is very historical; a lot of history, well preserved. Definitely worth an afternoon with the family for fun and learning.

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    Ask the Community - Tryon Palace

    Review Highlights - Tryon Palace

    We started at the encampment and were thoroughly impressed with our conversations and the demonstrations.

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    New Bern Tours & Convention Services

    New Bern Tours & Convention Services

    4.5(14 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    While in New Bern, I took the New Bern Trolley Tour, as that seemed the best way to get an overview…read moreof the city and limit my walking, as I've been having some injury flare-ups. I was even picked up from my hotel (and returned at the end). I was given somewhat of a tour to the official trolley stop. Restrooms were available near the trolley site, if needed. The trolley is also air-conditioned. When the rest of the tour joined us, we took a 90-minute trip around New Bern. The driver and tour guide were both incredibly friendly and had a good sense of humor. They both had intense knowledge of the town's history to share. We enjoyed stories of the town and saw some of its architecture. I enjoyed seeing the Slover-Bradham House (built in 1848), which I wouldn't have appreciated as much without first hearing the story of Caleb Bradham's life. It was a grand residence, and even the brick slave quarters (which were already there when he purchased) were of high quality. Bradham lived in those quarters after his bankruptcy. The Rhone Hotel (founded in 1923) was another building with a long history. It was listed in the Green Book as a safe haven for black travelers during the Jim Crow Era. Charlotte Rhone was the first African American registered nurse in North Carolina. The Isaac Taylor House was a historic gem. It still has the Civil War bucket and pulley used outside of the house. When the Union Troops occupied New Bern in 1862, this house served as their headquarters. Isaac Taylor's three unmarried daughters refused to leave the home and took up residence on the third floor for the duration of the war. They used the bucket-and-pulley system to get food and supplies to the third-floor window. The trolley tour has two stops where you can get off. One was at Cedar Grove Cemetery, and the other was at the New Bern Academy Museum. The Trolley Tour was the highlight of my visit to Craven County and a great way to learn about New Bern's history.

    We had the BEST time!…read more We were celebrating a 64th Birthday! The tour was super interesting even for our Birthday Boy from Askins, NC that has lived near New Bern all of his life. The tour was the perfect amount of time and what a beautiful day for a trolly ride. Gail and David were incredible! David's driving was smooth and not jerky at all ( I normally get super car sick unless I am driving) and Gail was Awesome! We enjoyed how she was detailed about the history of New Bern, threw a funny story in the mix, and even included info about something going on presently. All around energetic and really enjoyable. We would highly recommend to anyone visiting New Bern, NC as well as even getting to learn a bit of history about your own hometown!

    Photos
    New Bern Tours & Convention Services
    New Bern Tours & Convention Services
    New Bern Tours & Convention Services - Issac Taylor House, pulley system used by sisters who stayed on the third floor during the Civil War

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    Issac Taylor House, pulley system used by sisters who stayed on the third floor during the Civil War

    Dragonfly Boat Tours

    Dragonfly Boat Tours

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    We booked this boat tour same day for a 3-5pm cruise. Easy online booking process. I called to…read moreconfirm. Very friendly associate and clear directions to dock. Free parking. Captain Matthew was waiting for us and welcomed us aboard. Very comfortable seating and well maintained vessel. Electric motor was perfect for the quiet crusing and delightful conversation with other guests. We learned about the river, the area, a little history, the locals and some nature. Full 2 hour cruise. Very reasonable pricing and great value. We loved the rivers and all that we got to see. Highly recommend!

    We headed to the dock to find out about a boat tour but the company we were searching was no longer…read morein business. We learned this from the most engaging couple, Captain Jack and Mate Marilyn, who just happened to have their own boat excursion company. We decided to cruise with them the next morning around 9:30. We arrived about 9:10, they welcomed us aboard and we were off on a 90 minute excursion. The boat is electric so we were able to approach birding areas without frightening the little critters, such as the nesting Ospreys. We were also able to have delightful conversations about nature, the effects of Hurricane Michael on the area, the lovely church where Marilyn and Jack attend and many more interesting facts about the New Bern area. We were totally mesmerized with the outing and the 90 minutes passed much too fast. It was a beautiful day, an enchanting "voyage" and a totally enjoyable adventure with Dragonfly Cruises. By all means do it when you're in New Bern!

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    Dragonfly Boat Tours
    Dragonfly Boat Tours

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    Cedar Grove Cemetery - Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern

    Cedar Grove Cemetery

    5.0(4 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Cedar Grove was established in 1800. The main entrance is a stunning triple-arched structure that…read morestands in front of a 12.5 acre property. The cemetery was added to the the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. I was here to visit the final resting place of Pepsi inventor Caleb Bradham but there are others interred here including William Joseph Williams who painted the "Masonic Portrait" of George Washington. Bradham's stone is quite far back and unremarkable. There were a couple of Pepsi bottles on it that make it easier to find. The center fountain is impressive. Many of the headstones are in good condition but many are illegible and the carvings are lost to time. [Review 18902 overall - 3386 in North Carolina - 2425 of 2022.]

    This cemetery was recommended to us by the host at our bed & breakfast, but I had also learned…read moreabout it from my research on Yelp. This cemetery, among other people, contains the burial site of the man who invented Pepsi-Cola. That's reason enough to visit, but take time to review the map and accompanying chart at the entrance on the Weeping Arch side of the cemetery and get an idea of who else is buried here. Some of the locations were hard to find because the portable maps were all out, but if you reference an app on your phone (Find-A-Grave) you can get pretty good coordinates for any of the locations that you're looking for. Overall, a worthwhile trip to pay respects to various people who have made their impact in the New Bern area.

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    Cedar Grove Cemetery
    Cedar Grove Cemetery - Interior 4

    Interior 4

    Cedar Grove Cemetery - Fun fun

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    Fun fun

    The Jarvis at 220 - Historic wedding venue and event center in the heart of downtown New Bern, NC

    The Jarvis at 220

    4.9(22 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    We live about an hour from New Bern. My wife and I like to get away for nearby weekend coastal…read moredestinations every couple of months to loosen up the grind of work. New Bern has become a regular favorite out of our visits to Beaufort, Edenton, Oriental and Wilmington (used to live there). All of those places are worth a visit. Don't get me wrong. We have stayed at neighboring B&Bs near The Jarvis. So far, there is no comparison. We have also stayed at the chain hotels there. If you go to New Bern, The Jarvis is a place you should consider first. You'll get extremely personalized service from Ian, the innkeeper. He slightly reprimanded me for fetching my own coffee on our last morning there. The Jarvis is a destination venue for wedding parties. We expected the sleeping hours might get a little loud and we were prepared for it. However, it was remarkably quiet in the wee hours and the bed may be the most comfortable I have ever slept on. We both came home well rested. I won't go into the cool amenities, but you need to check out 'The Cellar Door' in the basement. We spent a couple of fun hours there during the rain storm that hit while we were there. Highly recommended! We will definitely return.

    Lovely quiet place very accessible to all the shopping and dining nearby…read more The downside was that there was no one on duty to ask question about the area! No breakfast either!

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    The Jarvis at 220 - Imagine having your wedding event here at The Jarvis at 220.

    Imagine having your wedding event here at The Jarvis at 220.

    The Jarvis at 220 - The Simpson Room

    The Simpson Room

    The Jarvis at 220 - Wedding day brides

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    Wedding day brides

    Washington's Southern Tour Historical Marker - Washington's Southern Tour Historical Marker, New Bern

    Washington's Southern Tour Historical Marker

    3.0(1 review)
    0.1 mi

    On a residential street that is about a block from the side of the Trent River, this marker points…read moreout that yes, the first POTUS really did sleep here. The marker reads, "President Washington visited in the Stanly home two nights, April 20-21, 1791." George Washington toured the United States to observe political climate and to thank his supporters. His tour and stops along the way became important landmarks in the areas he touched. Washington saw more of his country while in office than any other American president before the twentieth century. He also kept a detailed diary. Online, there is more information. "In early 1791, after establishing a site for the new "Federal District" along the Potomac River, Washington embarked on a tour of the Southern states--a product of his desire to visit every state during his term of office. Proceeding from Mount Vernon via Fredericksburg and Richmond (Virginia) into North Carolina, Washington crossed the Roanoke River into Halifax in mid-April 1791. From there, the President's carriage tour took him through Tarboro, Greenville, New Bern, Trenton, and Wilmington before entering South Carolina. Washington re-entered North Carolina near Charlotte and traveled northward, visiting Salisbury, Salem, and Guilford Court House. Washington arrived on the outskirts of New Bern on the morning of April 20 and was greeted by a group of leading citizens who escorted the President into town. He recorded in his diary that the town had about 2,000 residents and that the 'buildings are sparce and altogether of wood." He noted that some of those buildings were "large and look well."" It is marker number C-19. [Review 20320 overall - 3495 in North Carolina - 1298 of 2023.]

    Tryon Palace - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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